Led by the $122,000 given for a half-sister to grade II winner Dream Rush, the Sept. 24 session of the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale again produced lofty percentage increases over the corresponding 2006 session.
A total of 243 horses sold for $2,630,500, which was an increase of 35% over the 2006 session, while the average of $10,825 and median of $7,000 were up 32.9% and 52.2%, respectively.
“I’ve used the word phenomenal, because that really what it is,” said Keeneland sales director Geoffrey Russell. “I feel comfortable we will be close to 2005 (cumulative) figures, and without having the fireworks at the top. The money is just distributed out more this year.”
Russell was equally impressed with the session’s buy-back rate, which, with 38 horses not meeting their reserve prices, was nearly cut in half to 13.5% from last year.
“That is very positive,” he said. “Some of these selling today you generally think you will have a problem finding homes for. But the clearance rate is high, and they are moving on.”
With one day left in the 15-session sale, the cumulative gross sale total is $383,467,100, which is down 4.1% from 2006. The average of $105,726 is down 6% while the median of $47,000 is 4.4 higher. The total number of horses not meeting their reserve is 1,044, yielding a buy-back rate of 22.4%, up from the 22% of last year’s sale.
The sale-topper, which is a daughter of Salt Lake, is the fifth foal out of the unraced Unbridled mare Turbo Dream. Bred in Kentucky by James Petrey and Walmac Farm, the filly was sold to Halvorson Bloodstock out of Lonnie R. Owens’ Katalpa Farm consignment. Halvorson, which purchased the filly for $52,000 at the 2007 Keeneland January winter mixed sale, signed the ticket on behalf of an Oregon buyer, according to Keeneland officials.
The session’s second-highest priced horse was a daughter of Saarland that was purchased for $63,000 by Tom Gentry, agent, from the consignment of Warrendale Sales for breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. The Kentucky-bred filly is the second foal out of the Zafonic mare Eshaarat, a 7-year-old English-bred who was a winner at 3 in Ireland. Stonestreet paid $180,000 for Eshaarat at the 2004 Keeneland November mixed sale.
The top-selling colt was an Omega Code son that sold for $57,000 to Marette Farrell, agent, out of the Stonereath Farm consignment. Bred in Kentucky by Darrell and Lendy Brown, the colt is out of the Touch Gold mare Golden Park, who is an unraced half-sister to champion Meadow Star. Golden Park was purchased by Stonereath for $28,000 at the 2006 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. January winter mixed sale.
The sale concludes Sept. 25.
Day 14 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale continues to show increases.
